2004+ post emission trucks success stories from owners? single operator or sm+ fleet.

I have an Cat Acert without the DPF but it's still one of the first emission motors to come out. When I first brought this truck last year I had to replace 2 IVA sensors & a wiring harness that was getting oil on it. Outside of the lack of power & fuel economy I haven't had any problems since (knock on wood) and that's after 120,000 miles.

I probably keep this truck & make some upgrades to it, I want an older Pete but guys are asking $60-70K for Used Petes with over a Million miles on em. And I'm still skeptical about the DPF/DEF trucks, I honestly believe it's still a crap shoot if you're going to get a good truck or not.

 

Be not the first by whom the new is tried,nor the last to lay the old aside.

 

THIS!!!!!!!!! Just think what could be if the EPA would have been neutered from the get go of all of this?
Before someone says I must be against clean air & water. Just think of how different the market would be from the cost of fuel to trucks if IMPROVEMENTS would have been phased in when the technology was developed instead of forcing companies & customers to be guinea pigs for ideology.

That stuff aside, I was told the DPF's were improved in late 2009. But that goes against the issues two previous posts made about down time for said years. Local KW/Volvo salesman said the key was to take the DPF's in to get cleaned on a scheduled basis. Then again he has to sell trucks.

Peterbilt sales guy told me if I bought a Cummins(2003-2007 pre dpf) to expect a turbo, 1 or probably 2 EGR valves & 1 EGR cooler every 3 years. This is in addition to all the rest of the normal wear/tear items that fail.

Apparently after writing this all out, I have no answers.

But one more QUESTION to add to the original post. To the guys buying new or nearly new trucks, how long do you expect to run them? My thoughts are between end of warranty & earlier rebuild schedules of either motor or emission related parts, these things may get out of hand as the miles add up.

 

Most my friends that have a 08 or newer truck always tell me, "It's been a great truck, love it. All I've had to replace is 2 EGR valves, a turbo actuater, and 2 Turbos, other then that, I love it!"

Get my point.

 

Something that is interesting is that the EPA considers the useful life of an engine. In other words, while the engine is inside the "useful life" parameters they set, it must meet the emissions standards it was built for. Once the engine exceeds the "useful life" parameters, it is no longer required to meet the emission standard. For heavy duty on road diesels, that is 10 years, 1 million miles, or 25,000 hours, whichever is longer. Since most engines will bust 1 million before 10 years, the 10 year standard probably is the one that a person would have to meet. So, since it is now 2014, the first EGR engines are now getting outside the useful life provision. So one could get a 2004 ISX and delete all the nonsense and have a good running engine, as an example. The useful life parameters can be found at the EPA website. Of course, California has it's own game going on, so this does not apply there.

 

You had posted a link to that sometime ago, but I wonder if there maybe isn't a gray area in that. By that I mean, once it exceeds its "useful life" can the components be removed without a possible legal problem or should the entire emissions system be replaced. I don't remember anything saying either way from the EPA's website, at this time CA is likely the only state that you would possibly run into trouble on this.

 

Well........I've had two trucks with Acerts motors (an MXS and NXS) and now a 2011 DD15. The only problem I've had with any of the mentioned motors were Intake Valve Actuators on my last NXS. They were covered by warranty. I also had the IVA studs replaced per Caterpillar advisement. My last NXS motor was in an 07 Pete 387 and averaged approx. 6 mpg. Maintenance was nothing out of the norm......grease, oil changes, filter replacement, tune ups. My first Acert (MXS) was in an 06 Pete 379. Average mpg's were 5!! Yeah, that truck sucked!! Traded it for an 07 Pete 387, put the Bully Dog tuner on it and averaged over 6 mpg. Traded that truck @ 500K for my current Western Star 4900EX with a DD15. This most recent IFTA report had me @ 6.36 mpg. My best yet. Truck has 266K miles and has had ZERO motor and emissions related issues with the exception of loose coolant hose fittings leading me to believe my EGR cooler was leaking.

My operation is long haul pulling a curtain van to California. I do all the greasing, oil and filter changes. I'm right at 50K miles on my oil changes per oil sampling. I also follow ALL recommended service intervals per Detroit. I believe, in part, the fact I've had good luck is: 1) I don't idle 2) I run long haul 3) I follow all factory advisements. Some may add luck. Perhaps. I don't believe in luck though!!

 

Somewhere buried in a Peterbilt thread,there is a post by a small fleetowner.
He stated that when he compared his old trucks vs the new ones(DEF),adding in all factors,like taxdectuctions,MPG,maintenance,cost off DEF,.......................the new trucks came out cheaper.

He didn't agree with the common view that a old truck is cheaper.

Idling...........whether running a old engine or a new one,i would not do it in either case.
Besides waisting fuel no engine likes it.

So in the end setup is the key factor.
For example,if i was running up North,i would install a blockheater with a timer so the engine would never cold start.

Hope this helps.

 

This has been bothering me for months. Pre emissions, or post. I know companies are offering bonuses for 2008 or newer trucks now too, but is it worth it? Haha